Rhubarb #2: Orange Rhubarb Polenta Cake

May 22, 2013 · 1 comment

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This delicious cake has become an instant family favorite.  I’ve made two in the past week, and David and Julia have requested another for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.  Like Roasted Rhubarb with Orange and Spices, it marries the tart flavor of rhubarb with oranges and cinnamon, but this time the tender fruit is a filling encased in a sweet, crumbly orange-flavored polenta cake.  It’s irresistible –and a nice alternative to the traditional Memorial Day strawberry shortcake.  The recipe is simple and forgiving, but make sure you use coarse polenta for this:  ordinary cornmeal won’t give you the gritty, crumbly texture you want. [click to continue…]

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Rhubarb #1: Roasted with Orange and Spices

Thursday, May 16, 2013
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For me, rhubarb is one of those flavors that tell me that spring has finally arrived.  I love its tart freshness, but I think it’s best in combination with other flavors — on its own, rhubarb can be a little overpowering.  The traditional pairing with strawberries won’t work for us right now because Julia has [...]

Kale Salad with Mint and Serrano Peppers

Sunday, May 12, 2013
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Kale, and particularly kale salads, seem to be all the rage at the moment.  I’ve made and eaten quite a few of them now, and this one –inspired by a popular salad on the menu at New York’s ABC kitchen– is my favorite.  Its flavor is bold and delicious, and this recipe solves a couple [...]

Help! Refreshing the Southampton Foyer –Again

Monday, May 6, 2013

Yes, again.  About two and a half years ago, you helped us with a new color for our foyer in Southampton, and we chose the beautiful marigold color we have now. We’ve enjoyed it, but we’re ready for a change, and I’d appreciate your advice again.  We’re in the mood for a change because we’re [...]

Socca with Ramps

Sunday, April 28, 2013
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For followers of the foodie calendar, it’s ramp season.  These tender wild leeks appear for a just few weeks in spring, get overexposed in the food press and on seasonal menus, and then vanish completely for the rest of the year.  Don’t be put off by the hype, though.  If you run across ramps in [...]

The Watercooler

Tuesday, April 16, 2013
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I realize I’m rushing the season for this sort of drink, but we had a brief flash of summer last week in New York, and it reminded me of a drink that I made a few weeks before during our spring break in sunny Palm Springs.  It’s light and refreshing, and it’s delicious with or [...]

The New Dining Room Rug

Wednesday, April 3, 2013
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We love it.  It came in early and under budget –a rare bird in the world of interiors– but most importantly, when we unrolled it late one Tuesday night (I couldn’t wait until morning), we knew it was perfect, or at least perfect for us. A lot of the credit for this — for the [...]

Easter Spinach Pie

Wednesday, March 27, 2013
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Come to think of it, I’m not sure why a spinach pie is associated with Easter, but I’ve made it as the first course of Easter dinner for past 10 years –probably more.  The ingredients are available year-round, but the flavor is so fresh and, well, green, that I guess people associate it with the [...]

Roasted Chicken with Clementines

Friday, March 15, 2013
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Roasted chicken is a solid family favorite for lots of us, but for me at least, it’s easy to fall into a rut with the preparation and get a little bored with the dish. Here’s a recipe to shake things up.  At first glance it looks a little crazy –whole clementines, fennel, Pernod and mustard, [...]

The Brown Granada

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

The cold rain outside my window here in New York reminds me that it’s still brown liquor season.  Not that there’s anything wrong with whiskey in summer (or white jeans in winter), but there’s something really nice about a warming brown drink on a cold wet night. This is one of my new favorites.  It [...]

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